Your grade 3 double bass ABRSM exam will be marked out of 150 and you will need a total of 100 marks to Pass, 120 marks for a Merit and 130 marks for a Distinction.  The exam comprises of four main areas:

    Pieces

    In your exam you are required to play three pieces (worth up to 30 marks each), one from each of the three lists, A, B and C below:

    LIST A

    1. Azaïs Menuet. No. 22 from La Contrebasse classique, Vol. A, arr. Dehant (Combre C05440)
    2. attrib. J. S. Bach First Minuet in D minor (BWV Anh. II 121) (observing 1st repeat). P. 9 from The Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook for Double Bass, arr. Elliott (Bartholomew 009: piano accomp. published separately, 009a)
    3. L. Couperin Menuet de Poitou (omitting DC) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    4. Lully Air and Chaconne (from Le bourgeois gentilhomme) Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    5. Gerhard Deutschmann Menuett and Trio. No. 9 from Yorke Solos for Double Bass, Vol. 1 (Yorke YE0087)
    6. Mozart Allegro (K. 3). No. 2 from Subterranean Solos, arr. Hartley (Bartholomew 006: piano accomp. published separately, 006a)

    LIST B

    1. Grieg Norwegian Dance (Op. 35). No. 5 from Subterranean Solos, arr. Hartley (Bartholomew 006: piano accomp. published separately, 006a)
    2. Gurlitt Voyage de nuit. No. 20 from La Contrebasse classique, Vol. A, arr. Dehant (Combre C05440)
    3. Sheila Joynes The Old Sea Dog. No. 52 from Bass is Best! Yorke Mini-Bass Book 2, arr. Emery and Barratt (Yorke YE0098)
    4. John Merle Mummers (Danse grotesque). Festival Performance Solos – String Bass (Carl Fischer BF5: piano accomp. published separately, BF6)
    5. Schumann Melody (from Op. 68). Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM)
    6. Verdi Grand March (from Aïda). Amazing Solos for Double Bass, arr. Schofield (Boosey & Hawkes)

    LIST C

    1. Aprile Solfeggio No. 3 (upper part) (ornaments optional). Time Pieces for Double Bass, Vol. 1, arr. Slatford (ABRSM) (with the published piano (not double bass) accomp.) solo or accomp.
    2. Frederick Boaden Prelude: 1st movt from Petite Suite (Yorke YEC47358) accomp.
    3. Teppo Hauta-aho Scott: 3rd movt from Jazz Sonatine [No. 1]. No. 1 from Hauta-aho Pizzicato Pieces, Book 1 (Recital Music RM097) solo
    4. Mozart, trans. Hindemith O Iso ed Osiro. Hindemith Stücke für Kontrabass solo (Schott ED 8378) solo
    5. Tony Osborne Bassa Nova (pizz or arco or combination): No. 3 from Junior Jazz Book 1 (Recital Music RM037) accomp.
    6. Michael Rose Jumbo Rag: from A Sketchbook for Double Bass (ABRSM) accomp.
    7. David Tutt Spanish Dance. No. 8 from Bass is Best! Yorke Mini-Bass Book 2, arr. Emery and Barratt (Yorke YE0098) accomp.

    Scales & Arpeggios

    As part of your exam you are also required to play scales & arpeggios from memory (worth up to 21 marks) - please see the ABRSM Double Bass Grades 1-5 Scale Book

    Sight-Reading Test

    You will also be required to sight-read some music that you have not seen before (worth up to 21 marks) - to prepare for this part of your exam please see the ABRSM Double Bass Grades 1-5 Sight-Reading Book which has a selection of specimen sight-reading pieces.

    Aural Tests

    In another part of your exam you will be required to complete a set of aural tests challenging your musicianship (worth up to 18 marks). To help prepare for this please see the ABRSM Aural Training in Practice Grades 1-3 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 1-3 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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